Dolphins not offering Tua Tagovailoa “market value” contract, claims NFL insider - "You've got a situation"

Earlier this month, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spoke to reporters after the team's first minicamp. He discussed his contract negotiations with the team and said he was "antsy" about getting a new deal done.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Jeff Darlington spoke about Tua Tagovailoa's contract situation with the Dolphins on NFL Live. He said the team is not yet willing to give their quarterback a "market value" deal like his counterparts Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence.

"The complicated part of this is the Dolphins could point out that Jared Goff deal and say, 'well, we're not the Detroit Lions, we're not making that decision.' But when Trevor Lawrence then leapfrogs it, you've got a situation.

Right now, the Dolphins are not offering the contract that is the market value, based on those other deals that were done. So if this gets there, it's just sort of going to require more negotiations," Darlington said.

Darlington added:

"But based on my conversations, they are not in the Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence ballpark. And that to me, speaks volumes about where the negotiations are right now."

This ballpark Darlight mentioned is in the $50-$55 million range. Earlier in May, the Detroit Lions and Jared Goff agreed on a four-year, $212 million contract. Two weeks back, Trevor Lawrence signed a massive five-year, $275 million extension, with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Goff will earn $53 million AAV and Lawrence will earn $55 million AAV.

Earlier, Tua was aware of the other quarterbacks getting paid and said that the "market is the market."

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The Miami Dolphins have a Tua Tagovailoa problem at hand

While the Miami Dolphins picked up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option, the two parties not reaching a long-term agreement could be a matter of concern. Tua is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024.

Tua had an excellent 2023 NFL season. he led the NFL in passing yards (4,624). He also threw for 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a completion percentage of 69.3. En route to his first Pro Bowl selection, Tua led the Dolphins to the NFL playoffs, where the Dolphins got outplayed by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Injuries have been the primary concern for Tua. The Dolphins QB suffered three concussions during the 2022 NFL season. But he bounced back strongly, playing all 17 games last year.

Tua will hit the open market if the two parties fail to agree on a new deal. If the Dolphins let Tua play out the season, and the team potentially franchise tags Tua, his asking price is only going to get bigger.

The Dolphins playing hardball in the contract negotiations with Tua could backfire for the team, with the quarterback market value soaring high and a poor QB draft class in 2025.